Ethan Gauthier scored twice, but Vinni Lettieri’s power-play goal one minute into overtime gave the Toronto Marlies a 3-2 victory over the Syracuse Crunch on Friday night at Upstate Medical University Arena.
Syracuse collected a standings point and moved to 5-6-3-0, according to the Crunch’s game report. Nick Abruzzese and Dominic James each finished with two assists, while Lettieri scored twice for Toronto.
Gauthier opens scoring, then forces overtime
Gauthier put Syracuse ahead on the power play 2:32 into the first period. James moved the puck from the high slot to Abruzzese down low, and Abruzzese found Gauthier in the left circle for the finish.
Toronto tied it at 12:27 when Borya Valis collected the puck at the post and worked around the goaltender to push it into the net.
Lettieri gave the Marlies a 2-1 lead on a power play at 12:29 of the second period. Benoit-Olivier Groulx set him up for a one-timer from the left circle.
Gauthier answered just 1:14 into the third. James sent the puck down low, where Gauthier swept it home from the bottom of the left circle to tie the game at 2-2.
The score remained tied through regulation before Lettieri’s second goal settled the game with Toronto on the power play. Syracuse is now 0-3 in overtime this season.
Special teams and milestones
Olivier Rodrigue made 24 saves on 27 shots for Syracuse. Toronto’s Artur Akhtyamov stopped 14 of 16 shots to earn the victory.
The Crunch finished 1-for-4 on the power play, while the team report credited the Marlies with three goals on four opportunities.
Gauthier’s two-goal performance was his first multi-goal game since Feb. 6 against Belleville. Syracuse defensemen Steven Santini and Matteo Pietroniro also reached career milestones Friday, appearing in their 400th and 200th AHL games, respectively.
The Crunch return to action Saturday, Nov. 14, when they visit the Utica Comets.
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